What are Vocabulary Cards? Vocabulary cards are flash cards that have a word and picture on one side of the card and a definition of the word and an example of the word being used on the other side. The order can be mixed and matched, ie: having a word and sentence on one side, picture and definition on the other. Vocabulary cards are a wonderful strategy for learning new words, learning relations to new words, and definitions of words. This is a SDAIE strategy because it is a good way to help students learn both new language (English) and content matter. The Vocabulary Cards strategy breaks through language barriers by helping English Language Learners understand content matter even if they do not yet understand English
When can you use Vocabulary Cards? Vocabulary card can be used at any time during learning- before, during, or after instruction. They can also be used for any subject or topic, as long as there are new words for the student to learn or words that the student needs extra help learning. They can be given to students to store and use as a reference as the teacher is talking or they can be posted up on a bulletin board for students to see and use. Who can use Vocabulary Cards? Anyone can use Vocabulary Cards to learn new words or enhance their vocabulary. Students who already speak English can use Vocabulary Cards to enhance their vocabulary, while ELL students can use Vocabulary Cards to learn the language itself or content matter. Vocabulary cards are most effective for English Language Learners who are just learning English, but can be used for ELL students at any CELDT level. ELL students can use Vocabulary Cards as a way to connect words to pictures and give meaning to the new words that they are learning. It is also easier for ELL students to begin using English and speaking new words if they are constantly surrounded by these words in real life.
How do Vocabulary Cards work? Vocabulary Cards work best when educators use them in effective ways that not only engage the students in learning, but is also beneficial for all students. Teachers should select words from readings that are important to understand the main idea of the reading (Boyle & Peregoy, 2008). By doing so, the Vocabulary Cards become a strategy for the students to use to learn new words and understand the material they are currently reading. For example, if a teacher is doing a Science lesson on the life cycle of a frog, then the teacher can provide the students with Vocabulary Cards on the different stages of a frog (egg, tadpole, tadpole with arms, young frog, and frog). Students can use the Vocabulary Cards to learn about what a tadpole is and learn why this word is important to know for this particular lesson. The teacher can explain to the students that the new vocabulary words that they are using are part of their lesson and that the students must use context clues in order to define and understand the new words. Students can also make their own Vocabulary Cards using words that they may need more understanding on or words that they feel are more difficult for them.
Why should you use Vocabulary Cards? You should use Vocabulary Cars because the enhance student knowledge and understanding of words! Vocabulary Cards should become a part of your students’ daily routine so that the students may be able to become accustomed to learning new words in different ways. Students can even create their own Vocabulary Cards by writing a new word on the front of the flash card, then drawing a picture that will help them remember what the word is on the back! You can also have Vocabulary Cards for every student in the class so that you can ask your students to have their cards ready during instruction. You can even make a game out of it- students can raise the correct card in the air when they hear you use it in context! This can help students learn the word, the definition of the word, how the word can be used, and why the word is important for the lesson they are learning. There are so many different ways to use Vocabulary Cards that you cannot go wrong using them in or outside of the classroom.
I will use Vocabulary Cards in my classroom by:
Letting the students create their own Vocabulary Cards
Passing out new Vocabulary Cards at the beginning of a new unit for the students to look over
Posting Vocabulary Cards on bulletin boards around the classroom for the students to use as a reference
Students can create Vocabulary Cards as a way to study for a test
Students can decide which Vocabulary Cards go up on the classroom walls and which Vocabulary Cards no longer need to be up
Asking students to use the Vocabulary Cards that they have as a reference if I say a word that they do not know the meaning of
By: Chrissy Zawaideh
What are Vocabulary Cards?
Vocabulary cards are flash cards that have a word and picture on one side of the card and a definition of the word and an example of the word being used on the other side. The order can be mixed and matched, ie: having a word and sentence on one side, picture and definition on the other. Vocabulary cards are a wonderful strategy for learning new words, learning relations to new words, and definitions of words. This is a SDAIE strategy because it is a good way to help students learn both new language (English) and content matter. The Vocabulary Cards strategy breaks through language barriers by helping English Language Learners understand content matter even if they do not yet understand English
When can you use Vocabulary Cards?
Vocabulary card can be used at any time during learning- before, during, or after instruction. They can also be used for any subject or topic, as long as there are new words for the student to learn or words that the student needs extra help learning. They can be given to students to store and use as a reference as the teacher is talking or they can be posted up on a bulletin board for students to see and use.
Who can use Vocabulary Cards?
Anyone can use Vocabulary Cards to learn new words or enhance their vocabulary. Students who already speak English can use Vocabulary Cards to enhance their vocabulary, while ELL students can use Vocabulary Cards to learn the language itself or content matter. Vocabulary cards are most effective for English Language Learners who are just learning English, but can be used for ELL students at any CELDT level. ELL students can use Vocabulary Cards as a way to connect words to pictures and give meaning to the new words that they are learning. It is also easier for ELL students to begin using English and speaking new words if they are constantly surrounded by these words in real life.
How do Vocabulary Cards work?
Vocabulary Cards work best when educators use them in effective ways that not only engage the students in learning, but is also beneficial for all students. Teachers should select words from readings that are important to understand the main idea of the reading (Boyle & Peregoy, 2008). By doing so, the Vocabulary Cards become a strategy for the students to use to learn new words and understand the material they are currently reading. For example, if a teacher is doing a Science lesson on the life cycle of a frog, then the teacher can provide the students with Vocabulary Cards on the different stages of a frog (egg, tadpole, tadpole with arms, young frog, and frog). Students can use the Vocabulary Cards to learn about what a tadpole is and learn why this word is important to know for this particular lesson. The teacher can explain to the students that the new vocabulary words that they are using are part of their lesson and that the students must use context clues in order to define and understand the new words. Students can also make their own Vocabulary Cards using words that they may need more understanding on or words that they feel are more difficult for them.
Why should you use Vocabulary Cards?
You should use Vocabulary Cars because the enhance student knowledge and understanding of words! Vocabulary Cards should become a part of your students’ daily routine so that the students may be able to become accustomed to learning new words in different ways. Students can even create their own Vocabulary Cards by writing a new word on the front of the flash card, then drawing a picture that will help them remember what the word is on the back! You can also have Vocabulary Cards for every student in the class so that you can ask your students to have their cards ready during instruction. You can even make a game out of it- students can raise the correct card in the air when they hear you use it in context! This can help students learn the word, the definition of the word, how the word can be used, and why the word is important for the lesson they are learning. There are so many different ways to use Vocabulary Cards that you cannot go wrong using them in or outside of the classroom.
I will use Vocabulary Cards in my classroom by:
Here are some Vocabulary Card templates and activities.
http://youtu.be/FwnZ0B20FSA
References:
Boyle, Owen F. & Peregoy, Suzanne F. (2008). Reading, Writing, and Learning in ESL (5th Edition). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
SDAIE Strategies: A Glossary of Instructional Strategies. Retreived from http://www.suhsd.k12.ca.us/suh/---suhionline/SDAIE/glossary.html.
Vocabulary Cards. Salt Lake City: Granite School District. Retreived from http://www.graniteschools.org/depart/teachinglearning/curriculuminstruction/math/Pages/MathematicsVocabulary.aspx.